Fall Glitter Market @ Paper Crown!!!

Hi Everyone!

The Paper Crown in OKC is once again hosting their bi-annual Glitter Market!  The vendors that present at this Market are always over the top, oozing with talent.  I can't wait to see all the beautiful goodies everyone will have to get us all into the holiday spirit!  Cindy, the owner always has such gorgeous displays all over the store; you will definitely want to shop the store as well.  If you are not from Oklahoma City, it is a hidden treasure totally worth the drive to come see.  I hope to see many of you there!  Especially you locals, you have no excuse not to come out and explore and get some Christmas shopping done while you are at it!  :)

Wanderlust Art Contest @ UncommonGoods!

I am tickled pink to announce that I am a finalist in the UncommonGoods Wanderlust Art Contest.  I have always been a huge fan and frequent buyer at UncommonGoods.  They have the coolest, quirkiest, clever ideas for gifts, it is definitely my go to one-stop-shop online. 

 

Being huge supporters of the arts and recycling, UncommonGoods has a special place in my heart.  As many of you know, I love, love, love creating art and incorporating vintage and/or recycled goods into all of my work.  You can imagine my excitement when I found out that I had made it to the top 5 with my Wanderlust Window entry.  I am up against some amazing talent; as each piece is truly beautiful in it's own right.

 

This is such a huge opportunity, and I continue to welcome all the support you wonderful people have come to show me.  You all are my inspiration to keep creating and striving to do something new.  If you can spare just a few minutes, I would truly appreciate your vote.  As the fellow artists many of you are, you understand the grand exposure this could create for me.  As an incentive, I will be doing a CurlyQMosaics giveaway.  Please drop me a line letting me know that you voted, so I can make sure to include you in the giveaway.

 

Here are the details...

Go to the UncommonGoods Voter Tool and you will see my "Wanderlust" Window. To vote, be sure to register at Uncommon Goods for your vote to count.  Again, I thank you for your support and I will be back soon!

Amy

Life Is A Circus at JUNK HIPPY!

In just a few short days, JUNK HIPPY returns to OKC for another fabulous, fun-filled day with over 200 vendors peddling their vintage, repurposed & handmade goods.  The show is going to have a vintage carnival flair.  Emblazoned across the Junk Hippy shirts for sale are the words, "The Greatest Show on Earth!"  I couldn't agree more! 

 

Like what you see?  This "Life Is A Circus" window is one of several originals I will have for sale at Junk Hippy.  In addition to originals, I will have 8X10 prints, pillows & greeting cards.

 

If you live anywhere in the state of Oklahoma, this show is definitely worth the drive!  I hope to see many of you Saturday!  Be sure to leave a comment here, or on my Facebook page for your chance to win free admission for 2!

 

PS, "The Greatest Show on Earth" shirts are created by An Altered Ego.  Definitely on the top of my "have to have" purchases this Saturday!

"Tough Titty Said the Kitty...

...but the milk's still good."  Thinking back to your childhood, did you ever hear your mom or grandmother say this phrase?  I sure did.  Usually expressed when one of us grandkids was throwing a temper tantrum or things just simply weren't going our way. 

 

Awhile back I saw this vintage style Cavallini cat paper and thought it would be lots of fun to work with.  Not so much the cat lover myself as I am allergic to the fur, I knew there are many cat people out there who would be all about this.  Wanting something simple yet bold, just the words "TOUGH titty" was perfect.  Initially I was hesitant to create this window, wondering if it might be offensive or distasteful to some.  Apparently I was wrong.  I made this window, and it was a hit.  I sold it right away, and had many prints of it that sold as well.  Since it was very well received and evoked memories of past for many, I know that this is a window I plan to create again.  In fact, I plan on making and having one of these for sale at the upcoming Junk Hippy Show OKC on June 14.  In addition to an original and 8X10 prints, I will have greeting cards of this design as well.

 

Let this window be a lesson for me.  As an artist, sometimes you have to take chances; for the chances are usually the most successful creations.

 

Speaking of cats, Paper Issues has a fun challenge going on right now, "It's Raining Cats & Dogs."  What a fun theme to play along with!  If you have any layouts, cards, etc that involve cats and dogs and include paper, why not share?!?

 

Have a great one!

Amy

wanderlust...

As stated in the dictionary, this fabulous word is defined as follows...

wan·der·lust  [ wóndər lùst ]   a strong desire to travel

 

With summer vacation just a mere few weeks away, there is no better time than to share this window of mine with all of you.  I created this window completely inspired by the original lithographed map in the background.  Found at an estate sale, I knew I had to have it.  The rich aqua in the print is stunning, along with all the signs of age in the water stains, tears, etc.  The best part:  they had 3 of these maps rolled up and tucked away in a corner.  Talk about a fabulous find for me!  Going through my rather large stash of vintage windows, I found one that fit it almost perfectly.  The overall dimensions of the window itself are appx 40" wide X 30" tall.  As you can see, this window is rather massive to say the least.  As for the word "wanderlust"  I chose it because of the magical feel to it.  It sounds so whimsical. 

 

Right now hand lettering and script fonts are all the rage.  I have always had pretty decent penmanship, so I decided to hand write it rather loosely.  Surprisingly enough, I liked the overall look and I created it within the framed space pretty effortlessly.  As for the mosaic tile on top, I painstakingly cut every single piece to create the overall design just so.  It took many hours, and there are close to 1,000 tiles on there!  Lastly, I applied and "carved" out the mocha colored grout in my signature style. 

 

Although this window has already sold, I am currently creating another one just in time for my next show in June, JUNK HIPPY ROADSHOW.

 

Since I am such a fan of recycling and upcyling with an artistic flair, I always enjoy visiting Lessology's Blog to see what current challenges they have going on.  Right now, the challenge is "Window Display," using at least one upcycled product in your design.  Could my Wanderlust Window fit the criteria any better?!?  If you like upcycling materials in your work as much as I, you should stop by their blog for more details, the deadline to submit is June 1, so come play along!

 

Talk to you soon!

Amy

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!

In honor of Earth Day this past week, I would like to share with you a window I created featuring our "big blue marble in space," the Earth.  A few years back I came up with the idea of using the phrase, "Earth Angel" whenever including globes in my work.  The pediments I made here, and the Tim Holtz card I made here are just a few examples. 

 

This past fall, I had been anxious to use this very ornate plaster frame for one of my layered works.  Unfortunately, I dropped it and it broke into a million pieces.  Rather than scrapping it all, I was able to create the big wings on the window out of that frame.  :)  The vintage globe was cut in half.  To create some extra visual interest, I painted vertical stripes with Martha Stewart's Sea Glass paint.  Definitely one of my favorite colors.  The banner across the top is simply some kraft paper, and the edges are finished in Liquid Glass and Tim Holtz Rock Candy Glitter.  The letters on top are vintage plaster.  I am loving the background paper I chose for this piece.  It is from Martha Stewart.  The lantern pattern in the background mimics the stripes on the globe itself.  The aqua and green are the perfect representation of the earth's land and sea

.  The final addition to the piece was the vintage laurel leaves at the bottom.  Made of a heavy duty metal, I think it helped to ground the piece nicely.

 

As you can tell in the description, most of the materials I used were all about repurposing...the window, globe, the broken frame, letters and the leaves.  Giving something old a new life is something I truly enjoy doing.  Thank you so much for stopping by!

 

Amy

Custom Quatrefoil Window for Baby Emma

Hello friends!  Today I would like to share with you a custom window I created for a beautiful baby's nursery.  A wonderful customer and friend contacted me to create this special one-of-a-kind window to go over the baby's crib in the nursery.  The entire room is done in wonderful shades of gray, with lots of elegant patterns throughout.  From the chandelier and precious quilt, to the quatrefoil rug and painstakingly perfect patterned accent wall, this nursery is definitely fit for a princess!  

 

The window design itself is a new method I have been playing around with.  I created the overall quatrefoil pattern using the Sizzix Bigz Die - Label, Moorish.  I rounded up an extensive pile of gray patterned papers and was very pleased with the variety.  By spacing the diecuts, the negative space takes on the quatrefoil pattern that is so popular right now.  Leaving the open borders around the shapes, also creates a wonderful extra dimension you don't see in my other windows.  When hanging on the wall, it allows the color of the wall to shine through from behind.  Such a dramatic effect, I love the way it turned out. 

 

I congratulate Meghan on your new bundle of joy, Ms. Emma.  May this window bring a lifetime of enjoyment for your baby girl.  I sincerely thank you for allowing me to create something so very special, for such a wonderful time in your life.  :)

Oh, The Places You'll Go...

Since my last post, I have been a very busy girl.  Junk Hippy OKC was back in June, and the grand finale Girlie Show was in November.  It was fun to create for the final show.  I really pushed myself to come up with some over the top ideas.  Not only did I come up with lots of new creations, I also ventured into producing many of my works onto greeting cards, prints and throw pillows.  I am so glad I did.  These smaller items were a hit, and allowed me to spread my art out into the world a little further.  :)

 

Today I am sharing with you my most recent creation, "Oh, the places you'll go..."  My brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first baby in 1 month.  I am so excited, I can't wait to meet my little nephew and shower him with all kinds of love.  My sister, mom and I threw the baby shower this past weekend.  One of the gifts from me was this window for the nursery.  We planned the shower around this theme.  We had big globes on all the tables as centerpieces, we made hot air balloons out of paper lanterns and baskets, and everything was somehow touched with the beautifully dreamy sky/aqua blue. 

 

As for the window, the plan is for it to go right above the crib.  The nursery is very classy, done in dark brown, harvest gold, & baby blue.  The colors and patterns are so rich, the room is definitely fit for a king!  I hope that Baby Ryan will see this window and always think of his Auntie Amy.  Life is such a gift, and his life is just about to begin.  Oh, the places he will go...a true adventure we call life.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I promise to post again soon and share some of the many new creations I have conjured up in my head!

Amy